Carding machine clean out safety device

ABSTRACT

A device for preventing access to the area beneath the main cylinder of a carding machine except when the main cylinder has ceased to rotate includes linkage having a handle or operator which is forced as a result of rotation of the main cylinder to an operating position maintaining the linkage in position to obstruct such access.

United States Patent [191 Wigington, Jr.

[ June 18, 1974 [75] Inventor: Thomas A. Wigington, Jr.,

Anderson, S.C.

[73] Assignee: Dodd Metal Works, Inc., Anderson,

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 298,031

[52] US. Cl. 192/135 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6p 3/08 [58] Field of Search 19/98; 192/129, 133, 135, 192/136; 74/612, 616, 608, 609

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,257,105 2/1918 Owen 19/98 CARDING MACHINE CLEAN OUT SAFETY DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10,019' 0/1906 Great Britain 192/135 18,085 0/1905 Great Britain 192/135 Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bailey & Dority [57] ABSTRACT A device for preventing access to the area beneath the main cylinder of a carding machine except when the main cylinder has ceased to rotate includes linkage having a handle or operator which is forced as a result of rotation of the main cylinder to an operating position maintaining the linkage in position to obstruct such access.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CARDING MACHINE CLEAN OUT SAFETY DEVICE This invention relates to a safety device for a carding machine in the nature of an interlock between the operating mechanism and the clean out doors during mo tion of the operating means to prevent injury to operating personnel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Accidents which have resulted in the death or crippling and maiming of carding machine personnel have long occurred as a result of opening the clean out doors and attempting to clean out the area beneath the main cylinder before the carding elements cease to rotate. Such accidents most frequently occur during the period just before the main cylinder stops rotating. At this stage the main cylinder seems to present a deceptive appearance to operating personnel who proceed as if the main cylinders were stopped. Due to enomorous energy inherent in the mass of the main cylinder even at very low speeds of rotation, a man can be killed or seriously maimed as a result of engagement by the card clothing which tends to pull the engaged parts into the machine.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a safety device to prevent the opening of clean out doors of a carding machine except when the mechanism has come to a complete stop.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a mechanical device positively linked to camming means carried by the main cylinder for insuring that the clean out doors will remain closed while the card is runnmg.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide an interlock between the main cylinder of a carding machine and the clean out doors to prevent opening thereof except when the machine is stopped.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation illustrating a carding machine equipped with a carding machine clean out safety device constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view at an enlarged scale illustrating the operating mechanism of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 in greater detail.

The drawing illustrates a textile carding machine having a main cylinder carried for rotation by a horizontal shaft with driving means therefor. A device for preventing access through the clean out doors to the area beneath the main cylinder except when the main cylinder has ceased rotating includes linkage means A carried in a first linkage position to obstruct access to the area beneath the main cylinder when the main cylinder is rotating. A handle B is movable from a first handle position to a second handle position moving said linkage means to a second linkage position pennitting access to the area beneath the main cylinder. Cam means C is carried for rotation coupled with the main cylinder. A cam follower surface D is carried by the handle engageable by the cam means for maintaining said handle in said first handle position when said main cylinder is rotating. Thus, the linkage is maintained in the first linkage position to obstruct access to the area beneath the main cylinder when the main cylinder is rotating.

A conventional carding machine as schematically illustrated and a side frame thereof is broadly designated at 10. The frame carries the usual licker-in roll 11, main cylinder 12, and doffer 13. It will be noted that the usual clean out doors are illustrated at 14 and these are provided with handles as illustrated at 15 for re moving same from within the outwardly extending flange member 16 (FIG. 2) integral with the side frame member 10.

The linkage means A includes a latching arm 17 provided with a collar portion 18 for attachment in fixed relation upon a longitudinal shaft 19 aligned with the frame 10. The frame 10 carries brackets 20 (FIG. 1) for supporting the rod 19 for rotation upon the frame 10.

A handle or operator means B includes an elongated member 21 which is pivotally carried intennediate its ends on a pin 22 which is carried upon a suitable platform 23 supported in fixed position adjacent the carding machine. The lower end of the pivoted member 21 is pivotally connected to a yoke 24 as by a pin 25 The yoke 24 is carried on one end of a link 26 which carries a somewhat larger yoke 27 at its other end for pivotal connection as by the pins 28 to links 29. The links 29 are secured by suitable collars 30 in fixed position upon the operating rod 19.

Cam means C include V-shaped projections 31 suitably secured as by welding (not shown) to a disk 32 fixed for rotation upon a shaft 33 which carries the main cylinder 12. A cam follower surface D is provided by a block 34 which is welded upon the elongated pivoted member 21. Of course, the camming surface could be a portion of the elongated member 21. The main cylinder is illustrated as being driven by a belt 35 carried by a flanged drum 36. The belt 35 is driven by a motor which is controlled by suitable electrical circuitry (not shown). A micro-switch 37 is supported by the platform 23 and is interposed in the motor circuitry. Operating mechanism in the form of a plunger 37a is aligned with the pivotal member 21 so as to be engaged thereby when such is in position to permit access through the clean out doors insuring that the motor will not start until the various components described above are returned to operating position.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the left-hand end of the operating rod 19 carries a depending link 38 fixed thereto by the collar 47. A transverse link 39 is pivotally connected to the depending link 38 as by the pin 40. The link 38 is, in turn, secured through means similar to the link 38 to operate a longitudinally aligned rod similar to that shown at 19 and linkage mechanism associated therewith to similarly control access to the doors carried within the card frame member opposite the side frame member 10. Similar operating mechanism may be provided at the other end of the rod 19.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in a textile carding machine having a main cylinder carried for rotation by a horizontal shaft with driving means therefor, a device for preventing access through the clean out doors to the area beneath the main cylinder except when the main cylinder has ceased rotating comprising: linkage means carried in a first linkage position to prevent opening the clean out doors and thereby obstruct access to the area beneath the main cylinder when the main cylinder is rotating; a vertical operator movable from a first operator position to a second operator position moving said linkage means to a second linkage position permitting access to the area beneath the main cylinder; said linkage means including a plurality of spaced latching arms and an elongated oscillatible shaft carried in longitudinal alignment with said carding machine adjacent said clean out doors positioning said latching arms in latching engagement with said clean out doors to prevent opening thereof when the operator is in first operator position; engaging means carried for rotation coupled with said main cylinder projecting horizontally outwardly of said main cylinder; an inwardly projecting engaging surface carried by said operator engageable by said engaging means for maintaining said operator in said first operator position when said main cylinder is rotating; and connecting means carried between said operator and said linkage means for moving said linkage means between said first and second linkage positions; whereby said linkage is maintained in said first linkage position to prevent opening of the clean out doors and thereby to obstruct access to the area beneath the main cylinder when the main cylinder is rotating.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said 'engaging surface is a cam follower, and wherein said engaging means is a cam. 

1. For use in a textile carding machine having a main cylinder carried for rotation by a horizontal shaft with driving means therefor, a device for preventing access through the clean out doors to the area beneath the main cylinder except when the main cylinder has ceased rotating comprising: linkage means carried in a first linkage position to prevent opening the clean out doors and thereby obstruct access to the area beneath the main cylinder when the main cylinder is rotating; a vertical operator movable from a first operator position to a second operator position moving said linkage means to a second linkage position permitting access to the area beneath the main cYlinder; said linkage means including a plurality of spaced latching arms and an elongated oscillatible shaft carried in longitudinal alignment with said carding machine adjacent said clean out doors positioning said latching arms in latching engagement with said clean out doors to prevent opening thereof when the operator is in first operator position; engaging means carried for rotation coupled with said main cylinder projecting horizontally outwardly of said main cylinder; an inwardly projecting engaging surface carried by said operator engageable by said engaging means for maintaining said operator in said first operator position when said main cylinder is rotating; and connecting means carried between said operator and said linkage means for moving said linkage means between said first and second linkage positions; whereby said linkage is maintained in said first linkage position to prevent opening of the clean out doors and thereby to obstruct access to the area beneath the main cylinder when the main cylinder is rotating.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said engaging surface is a cam follower, and wherein said engaging means is a cam. 